| Pbayear: | 2002 |
| Team: | Coca-Cola Tigers |
| 1C-Name: | Governors' Cup |
| 1C-Wins: | 12 |
| 1C-Losses: | 6 |
| 1C-Place: | 2nd seed |
| 1C-Playoffs: | Semis (lost to Purefoods) |
| 2C-Name: | Commissioner's Cup |
| 2C-Wins: | 7 |
| 2C-Losses: | 5 |
| 2C-Place: | 5th seed |
| 2C-Playoffs: | QF (lost to SMB) |
| 3C-Name: | All-Filipino Cup |
| 3C-Wins: | 12 |
| 3C-Losses: | 5 |
| 3C-Place: | 3rd seed |
| 3C-Playoffs: | Champions |
| Owners: | Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. |
| Manager: | Hector Calma |
| Pol Team: | 3 |
| Nextseason: | 2003 |
The 2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
See main article: 2002 PBA draft.
Formerly the Pop Cola Panthers, RFM Corporation sold its entire stake in softdrink unit Cosmos Bottling Corporation and its PBA franchise to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. The team was renamed Coca-Cola Tigers as a new ballclub. Records of the Pop Cola Panthers were not retained. [1]
| Players Added Via Draft
Via Free Agency
|
Key players Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso serve time for the national team in the first two conferences. Three other Tigers, rookie Rafi Reavis and center Poch Juinio played for RP-Selecta while Johnny Abarrientos played for RP-Hapee during the Governor's Cup.
The Coca Cola Tigers made history by becoming the first team to win a PBA title in its maiden season as they captured the season-ending All-Filipino Cup crown over the Alaska Aces, three games to one. The Tigers won their first championship on a historic night on Christmas Day with a 78-63 victory in Game four of the finals.
See main article: 2002 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals.
| Date | Opponent | Score | Venue (Location) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 10 | FedEx | 66-62 | Araneta Coliseum [2] |
| February 22 | San Miguel | 85-79 | Ynares Center |
| March 3 | Purefoods | 89-69 | Philsports Arena |
| March 9 | Brgy.Ginebra | 82-74 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| March 16 | Alaska | 79-53 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| April 4 | Red Bull | 96-77 | Makati Coliseum |
| April 7 | RP-Selecta | 70-66 | Araneta Coliseum |
| April 14 | Talk 'N Text | 95-90 | Araneta Coliseum |
| June 18 | FedEx | 110-82 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| June 22 | Shell | 78-70 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| July 4 | Brgy.Ginebra | 70-65 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| July 9 | Purefoods | 91-72 | Cuneta Astrodome [3] |
| July 19 | Talk 'N Text | 94-91 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| August 8 | RP-Selecta | 74-62 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| October 27 | Shell | 80-52 | Araneta Coliseum [4] |
| November 3 | Purefoods | 83-58 | Araneta Coliseum |
| November 8 | Brgy.Ginebra | 85-63 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| November 13 | FedEx | 75-69 | Philsports Arena |
| November 20 | Sta.Lucia | 67-53 | Cuneta Astrodome |
| November 29 | Talk 'N Text | 92-84 | Cuneta Astrodome |